April was wet month; Lander and Riverton received above normal snowfall, but drought lingers on

(Riverton, Wyo.) – A very wet month of April shot precipitation averages at many climate sites east of the divide from well below to well above normal for the month. Nearly SEVEN FEET of snow fell on Casper Mountain, over two feet fell in the town of Casper during the first two snow storms, likewise in Lander; a foot and a half fell in the town of Riverton. In fact, this is Casper’s second snowiest April on record with 37.8″ of snow and 81.0″ have fallen so far this season, with only 20.2 more inches needed to bring this season into the top 10 snowiest of all time.

In Lander, the month of April looked like it was going to be as dry as it was last year with snowfall over a foot below normal for the water year. However, the first two storms brought Lander into a surplus; it now stands at 23.7″ ABOVE normal for the entire month of April. The snowfall season (July 2012 – present) has now delivered 97.8″ of snow so far, putting Lander 14.9″ above normal for the year, and 34.5″ above where we were at this time last year.

In Riverton, 24.7″ of snow has fallen this month, which is 18.6″ above normal for the month, and the 3rd snowiest April on record. Riverton has accumulated 54.5″ of snow through the current snowfall season (July 2012 – April 2013), or 20.9″ above normal for the season , and 34.1″ above where we were at this time last year.

The April 16 – 17 snow storm in Casper moves into the number 16 spot for the biggest snowstorms on record: